Wichita eagle., 1887-12-10

|
the gentleman she married with afterwards,
a llr. bennington, was Foljambe'S best man.
| There was a reception at the house-the
young couple took no tour, but remained at
Foljambe place-and 1, of the few Brantford
folk invited, was there So was David Pea
body, Of course. He was got up in suit Of
fine broadcloth, and his shoes shone like
japanned waiter. Every one knew this
raiment came from the bridegroom. Oh, Of
course! There We're number of costly and
elegant presents displayed. But these came,
with the exception of an odd looking japanese
cabinet, given by the Widow Peabody, from
the Foljambe friends and connections. Uncle
David examined them.
"Becky," he said, loud enough to attract
attention, "the Peabodys don't seem to shine
in the way of making gifts to the bride
Your Uncle David II have TO put in his
mite" Then he drew bulky package from
his capacious breast pocket, which it fitted SO
tightly that he withdrew it with difficulty.
"Oh thank you, Uncle David" said the
bride. Anything from you
"Opep it, child"
The newly made Mrs. Foljambe undid the
cord and removed the wrapping. 1t was a
Russia leather,covered casket, with the letters
r. P. F. on it, When she opened it she gave
cry of delight.
"They are old mine stones" said Uncle
David, quietly Don't drop that scrap of
paper. l don't want you to be running to
your husband for pocket money, and you'd
better invest the amount Of that check for
yourself, as he advises YOU"
This was a surprise. Few had seen such a
set-a necklace, bracelets, ear rings and pin,
made up of the finest briliants, some Of them
quite large. They must have cost enor-
mously. Where did Uncle David get the
money!
l found out before any one else. l was
down in New York to purchase tea, and
Carleton, of the jobbing firm with which
did business, said to me:
David Peabody is rusticating at Brant-
ford, amt he!'
"Old Uncle David" said. eyes, he is q
sort of hanger on to his sister-in-law. She
feeds him, 1 fancy"
Feeds him? What do you meana David
Peabody could feed dozen sisters-in-law and
nos feel it.
"Weil," l said, II recently began to suspect
he was rather well off. y
Rather well Off" exclaimed Carleton.
That's the best joke out David Peabody
we'll off! Is it possible you don't know how
rich he iss But he hardly knows himself.
Ee has beenfo over eighteen years the prin-
cipal stakeholder III great Mexican mine.
1t is an English company, and he is the only
American in it. But he owns two-thirds of
it. Why, it is one of the most successful
mines in the country. Well off! Why, he is
away up in the millions, and it keeps pour
ing in"
or course this was too good TO keep. Brant-
ford had the benefit of it, and, except an oc-
casional dash at the rosin and cotton, David's
great wealth was the subject for discussion
ana comment.
The civil war had come and was going on,
and Foljambe and his follies faded before it.
At last, in 1862, Foljambe's cotton began to
be moved. It had risen in price exceedingly,
and BrantfOrd found that there had been
method III the madness But the rosin though
it had risen TOO. remained undisturbed. At
length, | think it was in August, 1868, 800
barrels of the rOsin were shipped to Boston.
The next day $50 went to Philadelphia, and
100 went to Baltimore The next day 800
were sent to New York And so it continued
to move, sometimes in smaller, sometimes in
larger quantities. until by the latter part Of
November, every barrel was gone. l took up
The Price Current ard ran over the file for
the quotations on naval stores. To my sur
prise the price had varied from August to
November from twenty-five to forty-four
dollars per barrel And then it went down
below the first figure. Foljambe had stocked
the market.
There was little talk about Foljambe's fol
lies after that III Brantford On the con-
trary, the Brantford people admired the
shrewdnesS of ''Fool JIM" and that name
dropped. Well they might admire him. He
and Uncle David between them have built up
the place, which has doubled III population
and is thriving in every way. As for Fol-
jamie himself, he is very quiet for man so
immensely rich Beyond a years visit to
Europe, and two or three months travel
every year to some part of the country, he
stays principally on the Fojambe place,
where lie has enlarged the old mansion and
devotes himself to his family. Rebecca Fol
ismbe is as handsome, think, as ever, though
more plump than she used to be- They ap-
pear to be as fond of each other as ever, and
| dare say that they ere.
One day, when he dropped into the shop, l
happened to say something complimentary to
his foresight. He laughed.
'Colfey," he said, most of my successes
were unexpected. l had, it is true, sIspi-
Cion amounting almost to a certainty that
there was a bed of iron ore on the Peabody
farm, but bought it solely to give the widow
a lift, Tor Nathan Peabody had petted me
when boy, and was always ready, poor fel-
low, TO leave his farm work TO join me in
hunting, or fishing, or nuttiug, OF anything
else The fact that | was almost certain,
however. made rne divide the profits with
the widow rs a matter of equity. | never
suspected Uncle David'S wealth; but the cot
ton and rosin purchase was a matter Of cal
culation particularly the rosin. 1t was then
a drug in the market. 1t had accumulated in
large hills wherever they made turpentine.
It could be had almost for the taking away.
knew that war would coIue, but l never
dreamed that rosin would go beyond s. or
S. / built the sheds at Brantford, because
that was cheaper than storing it in New
York. and that's all the foresight haG."
You must have made a good thing out of |
it, anyhow Irejoined. alt is not my bust
ness, aud l don't ask, but you must have |
Melted q good round sum"
"Oh. l don't mind telling you,r said he. Il |
have figured it up. On the cotton and resin /
together, netted Just s3,7CO,0l0 But i |
am not so rich as David Peabody by some |
millions. "-Thomas Dunn English in The |
Epoch.
Opportunity for z Great Swindie.
Does II eeer occur TO the gentlemen trans !
ar-Ir1c stool. bpSf,aacs ~ Cbsca,ro .ho. $500